Baseball Allows Two Runs in Two Games, But Splits Twin Bill At K-State

Box Score 1 | Box Score 2 Manhattan, KS—The UC Riverside Baseball Team allowed just two runs in two games Friday at K-State, but split the double header against the Wildcats, taking game one, 5-1, but falling in the nightcap, 1-0.

GAME ONE
Daniel Martinez made his second start of the season for the Highlanders in game one, tossing five shutout innings allowing four hits and striking out four.

The UC Riverside (9-4) offense staked him to a 2-0 lead in the top of the fourth when Cade Peters laced a one-out single to left off of K-State starter Justin Heskett (1-1), and freshman Cannon Connor launched a 1-0 offering over the left field wall for his third home run of the season.

Martinez (1-0) handed the ball to Ricky Delgado in the sixth, and the Wildcats sliced the lead in half thanks to a hit batter, a walk, and single.

Angel Landazuri pitched a scoreless seventh for UC Riverside, and Jared Morton retired the side in the eighth.

With the score still 2-1 in the top of the ninth, the Highlanders tacked on three insurance runs. Colby Schultz' double down the right field line off of Wildcats (11-3) reliever Jared Marolf plated Tony Gudino and Michael Farris, and Schultz eventually came home on a Cody Sporrer sac fly.

Morton retired K-State in order in the bottom of the ninth, for his first save of the year.

GAME TWO
Hazahel Quijada took the mound to start game two for the Highlanders (9-5), and allowed only two hits through the first seven innings of action. Unfortunately, his counter part, Brogan Heinen, matched him pitch for pitch, giving up two hits in his six innings of work.

Kyle Barfield led off the K-State (12-3) half of the eighth with a double to right center ending Quijada's night. Jacob Worrell came out of the pen, and gave up a sac bunt to Josh Ethier which moved Barfield to third. Cameron Thompson then doubled down the left field line putting the Wildcats on top, 1-0.

That was the only run K-State would need, as Mitch Zubrady pitched a scoreless seventh and eighth, and Jordan Floyd did likewise in the ninth for his fifth save of the season.

Each of the Highlanders' five losses this season have been by one run.

UC Riverside and K-State complete their three-game series with an 11 am PT first pitch on Sunday, March 12.